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Evans Speaks Out on Town
Evans Speaks Out on Town
Sunday, 15th Jan 2012 10:00

Blues owner Marcus Evans was interviewed in yesterday’s match programme about a number of current club issues, including the manager's position, the future of the Academy, the scouting network and his continued investment. Town have given TWTD permission to reproduce the piece in its entirety.

First of all Marcus, have you a message for the Town fans?

Yes, I'd like to say thank you to all our fans for their continued support throughout this season. I fully appreciate the harsh economic climate in which we currently live and the impact this has for many people on their decision to continue supporting Ipswich Town through the purchase of season or matchday tickets. The fans' continued support is hugely appreciated, especially as results have not gone as we would have hoped for this season. I can assure you that everybody at the Club is fully committed to developing an entertaining and winning formula that our fans can be proud of.

You mentioned the results have not gone as everyone would have hoped for so far. What are your reflections on the first half of the season?

As we stand at the moment, we're obviously in a disappointing position. There have been some highs but too many lows, as there seems to have been since I have been involved with the Club. We had that good run of games when we were unbeaten in six matches and I can remember us going into the home match against Crystal Palace where a 1-0 win would have seen us move into the top two in the Championship. We lost that game 1-0 instead and that awful run of seven successive defeats followed. It looked like number eight at Barnsley until the incredible turnaround at Oakwell gave us a glimpse of our early season form and what the team is capable of.

What lessons have you learnt from the first half of this season?

It's clear to me that creating a quick fix within any football club is extremely hard to achieve however deep the owner's pockets might be! The Championship this year is littered with clubs that would be regarded as underperformers, where high profile managers and significant investment levels have not resulted in performances on the pitch or in league positions that would have been expected.

We have done our best to put together a team this year that can challenge for promotion and while at the moment our focus is on moving away from the relegation zone, there is a huge commitment from the players and coaching staff to turn things around. I still expect the group to perform well over the rest of the season. That said, it is clear to me that producing a team that will consistently push for promotion and eventually join the Premier League, is about a long-term development programme.

What does that long-term development programme consist of?


Getting the right players in at the right price (if we can't produce them within our own Academy) that can take this Club to where we all want Ipswich Town to be. The coaching staff are focused on identifying young players that will take the Club forwards in the seasons ahead. That remains a priority, although it can be easier said than done. Paul and his coaching and scouting staff are constantly looking at players and travel around this country and abroad in the search for new talent. Talent like Aaron Cresswell, who has done so well for us since joining from Tranmere last summer.

We are looking to further develop our scouting network. We have done that already this season with new additions to the staff and we will continue to look to improve that area, as we do with every area of the Football Club. I'm in regular contact with Paul, we talk after virtually every game and he's told me that he's made mistakes this season in terms of the balance of the squad and the number of older players we have here. Mistakes are part and parcel of life. It's how we go about rectifying them and moving forward that counts.

How does your relationship with the manager work and do you believe that Paul Jewell is still the man to take Ipswich Town forward?

I have a good relationship with Paul. We meet regularly and talk even more frequently. He's a good man and a good manager and has proved that with what he has achieved in the game. Paul will be the first to admit that results have not gone as we would have hoped for but no one is working harder to get us going in the right direction.

I have seen how much it hurts him when we lose a game. It hurts me, it hurts Simon [Clegg], it hurts the supporters, it hurts the players but it doesn't hurt anyone more than it hurts the manager. Of course we would love to be pushing for promotion this season and there are still 21 games to play and 63 points to play for but as I said earlier there is no quick fix in football.

I have spoken to Paul about my plans here, to build a team that can reach and then compete at the highest level. To achieve that we need stability and so long as our manager and coaching team demonstrate the knowledge and clear ability to take us forward, I see little point in restarting the project every season by switching managers. The reasons I appointed Paul are just as strong today as they were a year ago and I believe given time and with my continued support he will return the good times to Ipswich Town Football Club.

You have invested heavily in the squad since you first walked through the door at Portman Road four years ago. Will that continue?

Yes. We are in the middle of another transfer window and as in every window, we will look at opportunities to improve the squad. That will continue to be our strategy. As and when the manager has a player who he believes fits the profile and that he wishes to be part of the team that he is looking to develop, I will always look to support him in bringing that player to the Club. That has always been the case and will remain so.

The Academy at Ipswich Town is highly regarded in the football world but with a new tier system set to be introduced, what are your plans for the youth development at the Club?

The Club is spending more money on the Academy than at any time in its recent history and certainly more than before I arrived here. This spend will continue. The manager and Academy team have a clear brief to develop first-team players and this tradition will continue. The current rules regarding Category One and Category Two are unclear, however if it's financially viable we will apply for category one status.

Many figures are being bandied around, however until the Club can ascertain the exact cost, I can't say whether we will invest in Category One or Two. We will look at all the facts and when we are in a position to make an informed decision as to what is the best way forward for us at Academy level, we will make our supporters aware of the decision and the reasons why we have come to that conclusion.

There are also new guidelines being drawn up regarding financial `fair play'. How will that impact on you and the future of Ipswich Town?

It's difficult to say at the moment because like the Academy category system, there are many areas that we are awaiting clarification on. The one thing I can confirm though is that I will continue to invest in Ipswich Town.

So the disappointments of recent times have not affected your desire to take Ipswich Town into the Premier League?

Absolutely not. I am as determined as I was when I first became involved with the Club, in fact even more so, to see Ipswich Town playing Premier League football. I said when I first became a `Blue' that I was in this for the long term and nothing has changed.

How does running a football club compare to running your other businesses?

I don't go around punching the air in my normal day-to-day job! Or hold my head in my hands, well, not that regularly anyway! It's a game of emotions, of highs and lows, and we've had plenty of them this season. It grips you though. For 90 minutes on a Saturday afternoon, it's all that I'm focussed on.

Although I'm the owner, I have two very able people running the Club. Paul takes care of the football while Simon oversees the off-field side and I have every confidence in both of them. They are good, knowledgeable people, doing their best, working their hardest to take this Club forward.

Finally Marcus, will you continue to stay in the background at Portman Road?

If you mean doing interviews and the like, yes. I might not be based at the Club but I'm in regular contact with Simon and Paul and I'm very much involved in the decision-making in all aspects of the Club. It doesn't mean I am any less determined to make this club a successful one. I am and I'm convinced we will be.


Photo: Action Images



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meekreech added 14:16 - Jan 15
Jas

If you feel that strongly about ME etc go to Man City or United ( or anywhere ) and leave us to support our club in true fashion !!!
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debenturedave added 15:08 - Jan 15
ME bought the club so he can spend his money on whatever players or manager he wants. He seems to still be happy with Jewell at the moment , so we will have to put up with him and hope he turns it around again. We were all happy when we were on the good run and beat West Ham away, lets hope we can beat them at home as well ! We can only hope that we stay up this year and re-build again in the summer - hopefully ME will have a very profitable Olympics year and spend it on some real young talent and upgrading the Academy, as I fear Season ticket renewals will slump drastically unless the team dramatically revives this season ! I just wish he would splash out on one big signing , like Billy Sharp, and give everyone at the club a boost, just as Jimmy Bullard did last year - we can only hope and pray - in Marcus we Trust !? !
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DurhamTownFan added 15:16 - Jan 15
ME must think we're all mug enough to believe that this is a genuine interview. This is an owner's statement dressed up to look like one. However, it is good to see that he has realised the need to answer some questions that really matter to supporters. Read again carefully, and he's actually made no serious promises, lots of general statements with no specifics, and most worryingly, no firm stance on the academy. The only firm thing he said was that he's not firing PJ soon! Living up north I can't have a season ticket, but if I did, I'm not sure I'd renew mine either. Ticket sales will only continue to fall while we experience this 'dip' (ongoing) in form, so ISP really worry about what direction we'll be heading in for the next couple of years!
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WashbrookBlue added 15:22 - Jan 15
Although Jas099 and I have long disagreed on his anti PJ stance, this was based on my view of his prejudicial view BEFORE the evidence that has come to pass over the course of this season and I now find myself agreeing with about 90% of this.

This does feel like classic spin BUT...and its a huge BUT....the man has put his money where his mouth in to the tune of god knows how many squillions and I don't think for one minute he has made any of his (flawed) decisons with the intent of screwing the club up. I also think he IS genuinely in for the long haul, not least because that is the only way he is ever going to see a return on his mad investment! Walking away now, and especialy after relegation, is probably impossible and just makes no sense whatsoever. So, for better or for worse we are hitched.

I also can't help but have a sneaking regard for his determination to resist the clamour and pressure to sack the manager , howvere justified it would be (and I would probably pull the trigger, if I'm honest) . His refusal to do what seems obvious to the short term driven fan, scared sh*tless of League 1 football and panicking like crazy is either incredibly brave and far sighted or incredibly stupid. Place your bets....but ultimately it is his millions that he's gambling, so if you were him, I wonder what you'd do too?

That is not to say that he has not deserved accountability for 3 terrible, terrible appointments. We are still suffering from his crazy decisioon to pair Clegg and the dark lord together and kick out experienced operators like Sheeps and Bowden....a decision that mainfested itself within weeks with the sale of Rhodes and the £1.75 million purchase of that utter waste of space Priskin.

Maybe he too is learning from his mistakes? But we are in a terrible state and like jas099 , i find that my faith and interest is at an all time low. Years of this ineptitude, corporate spin and kiss the badge mercurialism by mediocre journeymen has taking its toll and no-one should wonder why anyone should think long and hard about exposing themselves again to any false dawn masochism.

No idea where this ramble is heading and not sure I care either. We have to just hope that the promise of youthful signings pays off and springs us somewhere more optimistic but most of all we need central defenders an area where the neglect and ineptitude of the ENTIRE management team of the club cannot be defended. It shouldn't be that difficult - with all the resources at disposal - to forge something that competes reasonably with the likes of Barnsley, Watford, palace etc etc. Our worst team in 40 years is probably also the most expensive and no amount of spin can ever hide that.

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RegencyBlue added 15:28 - Jan 15
I dont see this adds much to the debate either way to be honest. ME hasnt made any real commitments and nothing he cannot get out of if he wants too.

Actions speak louder than words!!
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Lukeybluey added 16:17 - Jan 15
#1 had Jim Magilton, young hungry manager. Learning his trade. Through pressure of the majority of fan's, got the sack.
#2 appointed Roy Keane. Young hungry manager. Still learning his trade. Through pressure of majority of fans, got the sack. Not experienced enough.
#3 appointed Paul Jewell. Got bags of experience. A respectable track record. Under pressure from some fan's to get sacked after a bad run.

So the 2 previous managers we had were young hungry managers that a majority wanted to get rid of (got their wish). We've got Paul Jewell (who i personally believe is the right man to take us forward) who a growing majority would like to be replaced by a young hungry manager.

Say we did replace him with a young manager. I fear that the 1st bad patch they hit the majority would be calling for his head!
Like they say, Sometimes you have to go back to go forward. And it just goes to show no matter who's in charge your always going to have some people jumping on the ever present negative band wagon.

Just think, things could be a lot worse. We could be Darlington! :S

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brittaniaman added 16:35 - Jan 15
OH WELL THAT IS 1PT TOWARDS THE 63PTS. THAT WERE AVAILABLE !!!!!!
Did not see you at the game yesterday Marcus ?????? Pity you missed a lot better game ?????
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:37 - Jan 15
anyone seen my Hedgehog ?
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rosseden added 16:40 - Jan 15
I would have liked to ask "the club spent £3.1M of your money on McAuley and Norris and they were allowed to walk out of the door for free at the end of their contracts, how did that feel?" "Will the same be allowed to happen with £2.7M Leadbitter?"

Mark, football clubs and big businesses operate on contract values, s,o the fee gets rolled into the 'total contract value' the moment you pay it you write it off..... think about it like buying a new car, you drive it off the forecourt and lose 30% of the value..... buy the player, lose the fee, then the wages are the running costs, if you can sell it for something at the end, great, if not, you have spent what you budgetted on spending so no big deal......
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Tractastic added 16:40 - Jan 15
A considered response to reasonably easy questions from an intelligent man.Didn't exactly inspire but said enough to give us hope we may just be in good hands.
Whilst loyalty in a fickle game is to be applauded there has to come a time when ME and Clegg have to hold their hands up and admit they got the Jewell appointment wrong.
Taking emotion out of it the facts are clear.Second largest spenders in the transfer market in the summer and yet we are just above the relegation zone and we all know the stats on the current run.
For me the football league show interviews with various championship managers spoke volumes.From the obvious passion from the likes of Tony Mowbray,Jewell came across like a wet lettice even daring to say 'at least we got something out of the game'?.We were 2 up for god sake.Totally uninspiring and no wonder sometimes the players seem to lack passion.
I welcome ME's comments and his loyal style is suited to Ipswich but its time to admit that the Jewell appointment has not worked.He's not good enough.
The likes of Jas0999 who are venting their frustration are true fans and at least they are showing a bit of passion unlike some others.(and i don't mean ITFC fans)
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Facefacts added 18:27 - Jan 15
Being more of a traditionalist, I'm not too keen on the new 'Sherlock' series which is on BBC 1 later tonight. However, as Sherlock Holmes used to say, "we should not act before we have data. But we shall take this as a working hypothesis".

Hypothetically then, in January 2012, let's say there is a budget for improving the team, with a view to much better results and an improved league position over the second half of the season, and Paul Jewell has the job of identifying those players, so he is the man Marcus Evans has chosen to try to take us forward. No change of manager is going to be made, for the moment.

Let's say Paul Jewell is bringing in Simon Clegg for negotiation of contracts with agents, where the player is wanted as a permanent signing. Paul Jewell probably is more of a traditionalist, so he wouldn't want to deal with agents any more than you or I would. I'm starting to see us as a minnow in a sea of big fish. Are we nasty enough to stay clear-headed and cool when dealing with agents, or would we rather pull up the blankets over our heads and complain that they say this and then do something else. Would we rather get a player who's agent is easy to deal with, never mind his quality as a player. It's a bit like me, really, complaining that I don't like the new Sherlock Holmes with his mobile phone and the internet, when we have to accept that Sherlock is the new Doctor Who, because that gets the ratings.

On contracts and building a successful football team, I can't square what I'm seeing PJ doing day by day with the measured comments of ME. I think the pressure on PJ is panicking him into getting just any players in. It's good to know we have bids in for players, it really is, but we know that we are in January, when the best players just aren't available.

Simon Clegg was looking after the Sean St Ledger situation. Fair play, Leicester needed him as players were off to the African Nations cup. But the data was available in advance that Leicester would lose these players, wasn't it? I haven't seen the report about him being available again, maybe? Will check this later.

If Marcus Evans the interviewee had been a player, I would have compared him to Alan Hansen or Franz Beckenbauer, with his measured comments, striding forward with the ball, before calmly laying it off to the bustling centre forward, and stepping back into the shadows.

In stark contrast to that, the current, very real instability of struggling and underachieving at PJ and SC level is transmitting through to the team, and is frightening. I saw the goals on TV we conceded since the Reading loanee keeper came in. For Birmingham and Blackpool, with cool heads and steady nerves, we should have had the six points, not just one point. For the first goal at St Andrews, the Reading glovesman should have motored through with an early clear call to the defenders and got the ball ahead of Zigic. If that seems harsh criticism, then if our defence is poor why aren't we looking for a commanding keeper? He looks like a shrinking violet to me. I hear the arguments that even if we had the best keeper in the world, our defence would still leak too many goals. I know we can't get Shay Given, but if the Reading reject's no better than ALB, why are we splashing out on the Reading rookie when he's not improving the defence.

Please only bid for players, whether loanee or permanent, who will improve the team, and whom we have a chance of getting. I don't underestimate how hard this must be, but it's Marcus' money and supporters' money that's at stake here, and we should have enough football people to identify the right players or keep the money for the summer.
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thechangingman added 18:35 - Jan 15
jas0999:

In my opinion, your contribution to this thread was thoughtful, balanced, articulate and well-informed.
It, however, gives me great cause for concern when fans like you have had enough. I hope that the club will listen to the voice of the 'reasonable fans' like yourself who, very reluctantly, have started to see through the spin and hogwash and realise that we are a long, long way from even STARTING on a long-term plan.

Well written. Well said. I feel sure that you'll find something else of far greater value and worth to spend your hard-earned cash on. :)
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ELI1970 added 19:15 - Jan 15
"The Club is spending more money on the Academy than at any time in its recent history and certainly more than before I arrived here."

How? Quality, proven staff (Klug, Humes, Hall) have been sacked or made redundant and have either not replaced or poorer coaches? What is the academy budget being spent on then?
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hairbear added 19:26 - Jan 15
I'm not a fan of either Clegg or Jewell but without Evans money (for whatever reason) we would out of existence! Careful what you wish for righty.
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Gazelle added 19:37 - Jan 15
To all the negative posters, what did you expect him to say ? If he goes are you going to buy the debt Righty ?
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piersmorganisatool added 20:10 - Jan 15
jas0999, you're going to get some stick for that, but you are more than entitled to your own opinion, and to be fair you've pretty much hit the nail on the head with that one! i feel we as supporters are sleep walking into a really big problem with Evans, i know he saved us etc etc, and we thank him for that! but all we;re asking for is for him to look like he meant it! appointing Paul Jewell and sticking by him in this current vain of form smacks of "sod you lot, and bollox to the league table and form book, i know whats best!" attitude. ITFC in league 1 will be a travesty for our club, and thinking we will breezze it is a very dangerous attitude with Marcus Evans at the helm, the man without the midas touch.
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Keaneish added 20:53 - Jan 15
Er...? Who put these questions to him? They sound very staged.
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Sindre94 added 21:22 - Jan 15
I find this interview very positive indeed, too many moaners on here. GET IN! COYB
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bubblesblue79 added 21:23 - Jan 15
COYB's
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WarkyWonderLand added 21:36 - Jan 15
Have to say that both keane and jewell have been shown more support and patience by our fans than they would at any other club given the results and lack of progress with the resources given.

At no stage have either of these appointments been given any serious stick at Portman road to put pressure on me to sack them, they have both been lucky with the support they have had. That can't be disputed.

Surely if PJ was in this for the long run he would set up home here rather than rent with McCarthy and leave his wife in Yorkshire. That does not help with peoples perception of him.

By throwing a few more players at him won't be the answer, his stats have grim reading and tactically he appears naive. At what point do people say enough is enough. No wins in 5 games and 2 in 14 is shocking yet people think he can turn it round. I am nor sure on what basis or evidence. Would love someone to explain how.

Have been going to PR for 32 years since the age of 5 and with 2 young children have to prioritise. I am sorry but still feel PJ is not the man to take us forward and if he is still here at the beginning of next season people will vote with their feet.



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newboy added 12:55 - Jan 16
Obviously ME can spend his money how he likes and if he chooses to stand by a second rate appointment so be it - but I fear he will live to regret it when renewal time comes. During these hard times people cannot justify throwing money away on the pitiful displays PJ puts on and no Jas 0999 I dont blame you it comes to a point where it becomes an expensive form of torture and you wonder why you put yourself through it.

The club is going downhill and relegation looms and when the manager loses the fans you dont turn it around - I never thought he was a good appointment and nothing will change my mind on that but it gives me no pleasure to be proven right and watch him destroy a once great and respected club.
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JewellintheTown added 13:16 - Jan 16
Not sure quite what some of you expect ME to say really that would make you happy?

"Well, its all a bit sh*t isnt it, I cant be doing with this rubbish, I'm off with my money, cant be @rsed to stay with this 'cos everyones a plum at this club ... sack the lot of 'em and s*d all you miserable so called fans".

Would that have been any better?
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Cobbold_Youth added 14:56 - Jan 16
I must say that I am very suspicious of any interview in the programme. I stopped buying it for the first season in many years (cost/content etc) this season. It is the mouth piece of the club & has to be upbeat, on message, non controversial, tactful... Past managers have admitted their programme notes are ghost written for them which was when I stopped reading them. I suspect this interview has been constructed by the ITFC PR office. I sincerely hope not and I also hope that ME is sincere in what he says. Some very good posts on this topic . I found a hedgehog in our kitchen, anyone lost one?
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WickedBlue added 01:39 - Jan 20
Unfreakinbelievable some of your are. With out ME we would most probably be in league 1 or 2 if a football club at all. The drivel that comes out of some of our supporters really leads one to wonder if their collected IQ matches that of a retarded flea Or is that an insult to retarded fleas?
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whittonite added 18:50 - Jan 21
we can all talk a good job mr evans....
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